The mission of Gettysburg NMP is to preserve and protect the historic resources of the Battle of Gettysburg - for this and all future generations -- and to provide understanding of the events that occured here, and how they shaped and influenced the development of our nation.

Today's announcement is a dramatic step, leading towards the National Park Service's ability to accomplish that mission.

In the fall of 1994, the park identified four significant long term goals required for the preservation of a significant portion of those resources, and the improvement of our ability to provide interpretive and educational opportunities to the public. Those four goals were:

• Protect the park's collection of historic objects and archives. We need to provide NPS-standard, environmentally controlled space for the permanent protection and preservation of the park's world-famous collection of Civil War era artifacts and archives. The current facilities lack heat, air conditioning, humidity and dust control, and fire and intrusion protection.
• Preserve the Cycloraraa Painting. We must provide adequate facilities for the long term preservation and display of the Cyclorama painting, "High Tide of the Confederacy." The current building housing this painting was inadequately design and has structurally failed, exposing the painting to both structural stress and excess humidity.
• Provide High quality Interpretive and Educational Opportunities for Visitors. We need to provide visitors with an understanding of the Gettysburg Campaign within the broad context of the causes and consequences of the Civil War, and it continuing legacy to the American people. The current visitor center structure makes this impossible.
• Restore the High Water Mark of the Battle. We need to restore the significant historic landscapes of the Union battle lines of the 2d and 3d days of the Battle of Gettysburg. The current visitor center and Cyclorama building were both constructed on some of the most hallowed and blood-stained ground at Gettysburg NMP. We need to remove these buildings and resanctify the ground we are all occupying right now, in order to honor the valor and sacrifices of those men who fought and died for their beliefs.